Good afternoon, everyone. The Pam Bondi deposition has now concluded, and I have exclusive details on exactly what Bondi said behind closed doors, who she blamed for the failures in the Epstein files release, and what her testimony means for survivors seeking answers and accountability.
I spent the morning on Capitol Hill interviewing survivors directly affected by this case and have just spoken with New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury to get a firsthand update from inside the deposition room.
Here’s the news:
According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon is seeking hundreds of military personnel to attend President Trump’s planned UFC event at the White House on June 14, with participants required to cover their own travel expenses and meet physical fitness standards. Organizers are specifically recruiting junior enlisted troops and junior officers to fill much of the audience for the event, which is part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The UFC event, expected to draw around 4,000 attendees, will take place in a temporary arena on the White House South Lawn and is being promoted as a major patriotic spectacle. While supporters describe it as a unique celebration of America’s anniversary, critics have questioned the logistics, security challenges, and use of military personnel in the event.
This is me and survivors on Capitol Hill today. Super proud to stand alongside them and tell their stories:
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told the House Oversight Committee that the Justice Department made “redaction errors” when releasing records related to Jeffrey Epstein, but said officials acted in good faith and believed they had released all required materials. She explained that oversight of the review process was largely delegated to then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and maintained that the department remained committed to transparency and accountability.
One source inside the room told me: that Pam Bondi threw Kash Patel under the bus suggesting she sought out more Epstein files from the FBI and the courts but couldn't get them.
The release of the Epstein files drew criticism because survivors’ identities were exposed while some alleged perpetrators’ names remained redacted, prompting outrage from survivors, lawmakers, and some Trump supporters. During the hearing, lawmakers sought answers about what documents remain unreleased and whether additional records related to Epstein could still be disclosed.
Robert Garcia confirmed today: “I asked former AG Bondi five times about her conversations with President Trump, whether he directed her on the Epstein files, what he knew, and she refused to answer any questions about President Trump.”
A top Trump DOJ official, Harmeet Dhillon, who represented Pam Bondi in the hearing rolled her eyes when asked why she blocked questions about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein during Pam Bondi’s deposition. Asked to explain the decision, she dismissed the concern as “silly” and refused to provide a justification, saying: “I’m not gonna get into my reasoning.”
Moreover, Garcia discussed questioning Bondi about moving Ghislaine Maxwell to a more cushy facility. Here’s what he said: “We asked Bondi questions about Ghislaine Maxwell and the transfer, and she referred those questions to Todd Blanche and the Bureau of Prisons. So we have many questions for Mr Blanche that Republicans are refusing to ask. Why was she transferred to a less secure facility?”
Rep. Melanie Stansbury blasted Republicans for largely skipping Pam Bondi’s deposition, saying:
“There is not a single Republican in the room besides the chairman. For a supposed group of individuals who care deeply about justice for the survivors, not a single Republican could be bothered to travel across the country today to come hear testimony from the former AG.”
Diesel fuel spilled onto the National Mall at least twice during preparations for events celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary. According to government officials, the spills occurred within the past two weeks as construction crews were setting up infrastructure for the festivities. The incidents have raised concerns about potential environmental impacts and the management of large-scale event preparations in a highly visible public space. Federal authorities are investigating the spills and overseeing cleanup efforts while preparations for the anniversary celebrations continue.
This afternoon, a federal judge ordered the immediate removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center:
A NOTUS report has revealed that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s son, Philip Alito, quietly held a senior legal role at the Treasury Department while the agency was involved in Supreme Court cases related to President Trump. Treasury officials and the Supreme Court say Philip Alito did not work on matters expected to come before the Court and complied with all ethical requirements, arguing there was no reason for Justice Alito to recuse himself. The disclosure has nonetheless sparked renewed scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and ethics standards at the Supreme Court, particularly in cases involving the Trump administration. Critics question whether the arrangement created the appearance of a conflict, while administration officials insist proper safeguards were in place.
According to the New York Times, A federal ICE agent has been arrested and charged in connection with the January shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant during a controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. Authorities allege ICE officer Christian Castro unlawfully fired through the front door of a home, striking Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was in the U.S. lawfully, and then falsely reported what happened to supervisors. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the shooting appeared unjustified and accused Castro of lying to cover up his actions. Castro was arrested in Texas and now faces four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
President Donald Trump purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of stock in TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC, while continuing to promote a UFC event scheduled to take place on the White House South Lawn. Ethics watchdogs argue the investment creates a major conflict of interest because Trump is using the presidency to boost a company in which he owns stock. The White House has previously said Trump's stock trades are handled by financial advisers, not by Trump personally. The UFC event, which Trump has called "the greatest show on Earth," is scheduled for June 14 and is being promoted as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Louisiana Republicans approved a new congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts and is expected to give Republicans a 5-1 advantage in the state’s U.S. House delegation, up from the current 4-2 split. The redraw follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down the previous map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and further weakened Voting Rights Act protections. Republicans argued they drew the map based on partisanship rather than race, while Democrats and voting rights advocates contend it significantly reduces Black political representation in a state where roughly one-third of residents are Black. The new map is expected to face legal challenges and is part of a broader national push by both parties to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections.
Trump said he was heading to the Situation Room to make a "final determination" on a proposed agreement with Iran that would extend a ceasefire and launch nuclear negotiations. Trump said Iran must permanently give up any path to a nuclear weapon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping, and allow the removal and destruction of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. The announcement comes as U.S. and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached a preliminary framework agreement, though Trump stressed that no sanctions relief or payments have been approved.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is pushing a proposal to penalize sanctuary cities and states by reducing or eliminating customs processing at their airports, potentially disrupting international flights. The idea has drawn strong opposition from the travel industry, local officials, and even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who warned against restricting air travel over political disagreements. Although Mullin has repeatedly promoted the plan, CNN reports that it has not been approved by the White House and is viewed by some administration officials as a personal initiative rather than a broader administration priority.
Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy is calling for an inspector general review of the NIH's Rocky Mountain Laboratories after a monkey infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever bit a researcher in November 2025. The employee did not contract the disease, recovered fully, and returned to work, but Sheehy and other Republicans say the incident raises concerns about lab safety and the possibility of a future pathogen leak. Sheehy wrote that he does not want Montana to become "the next Wuhan" and is seeking a review of the lab's security, oversight, and personnel practices. NIH officials maintain that safety protocols were followed, the worker was properly treated and monitored, and there was never any risk to the public.
A group of Vietnam veterans and former diplomats is suing to stop Donald Trump's proposed Triumphal Arch near Arlington National Cemetery, arguing it would overshadow the cemetery and disrespect those who served. The plaintiffs contend the project lacks congressional approval and point to Trump's past comment that the monument was being built for "me." Critics say the arch would disrupt the historic view between Arlington and the Lincoln Memorial and serve as a symbol of personal glorification rather than national remembrance. The Trump administration defends the project, saying it would honor veterans and become an iconic American landmark.
Germany is pushing back against U.S. criticism of a proposed law that would require streaming services to invest at least 8% of their German revenue into German and European film and television productions. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer argued the measure violates the new EU-U.S. Turnberry trade agreement, but the German government says it is a cultural policy tool, not a trade barrier or tax. Berlin noted that similar requirements already exist in France and Italy and described its proposal as relatively modest by European standards. The dispute highlights growing tensions between the U.S. and European governments over rules requiring tech and streaming companies to support local content production.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
